RECAP >> The Emmaus wrestling team picked up an all-important win last night as they went on the road and defeated Freedom 36-30 at the Joseph J. McIntyre Gymnasium. The dual was aired LIVE on The Eastern Pa. Sports Network and sponsored by BSI Corporate Benefits.
It was the fourth straight victory for the Hornets who improved to 5-2 in the EPC and 9-3 overall and it moved them into seventh place in the latest District XI Class 3A rankings. The top eight teams will qualify for the tournament which gets underway on Saturday, February 4 at Freedom High School.
Emmaus won seven of the 13 matches with five of those wins coming by pin.
Two of those falls came in the last three matches as sophomore Reilly Bechtel earned a first period pin over senior Sean Etheridge at 189 and senior Jake Gross picked up his team-leading 19th win of the season with a second period fall over freshman Jacob Hauze at 215, clinching the dual for Emmaus.
Senior Marco Albanese improved to 17-6 on the season with a pin at 145 and freshmen Jackson Max and Xayden Sallit also had key pins at 107 and 139, respectively. Another freshman, Aiden Bayard, picked up a big win at 114 with a 7-2 decision over John Bodnar, and sophomore Jesse Scott picked up his 13th victory of the season, a 9-4 overtime decision over freshman Ivan Bonilla at 160.
Four of Freedom’s six wins on the night came by pin courtesey of CJ Horvath (121), Cam Wickemeyer (133), Joe Bodnar (152) and Jared Karabinus (172). The Patriots dropped to 3-4 in the league and 10-6 overall.
Emmaus will be right back in action at 7 p.m. tonight as they host Nazareth (10-1) in their final home dual of the season.
To stay up to date on Emmaus wrestling, follow on Twitter (@Emmauswrestling) and like Emmaus wrestling on facebook.
Emmaus 36, Freedom 30
107 – Fr. Jackson Max (E) pinned Fr. Tyzaire Johnson in 4:58
114 – Fr. Aiden Bayard (E) dec. Fr. John Bodnar 7-2
121 – Sr. CJ Horvath (F) pinned Sr. Alex Issa in :59
127 – Fr. Anthony Crisafulli (F) dec. Fr. Logan Armstrong 2-1
133 – Sr. Cam Wickemeyer (F) pinned So. Chance Henry in 2:53
139 – Fr. Xayden Sallit (E) pinned So. Keenan Ray in 3:54
145 – Sr. Marco Albanese (E) pinned Jr. Alex Salim in 2:21
152 – Jr. Joe Bodnar (F) pinned So. Gabe Zavecz in 1:28
160 – So. Jesse Scott (E) dec. Fr. Ivan Bonilla 9-4 in OT
172 – Jr. Jared Karabinus (F) pinned Sr. Lord Henry in 1:04
189 – So. Reilly Bechtel (E) pinned Sr. Sean Etheridge in 1:00
215 – Sr. Jake Gross (E) pinned Fr. Jacob Hauze in 2:35
285 – Sr. Nicholas Farrell (F) dec. Sr. EJ Boney 3-1 in OT